Torsion action cutting and marking die

ABSTRACT

A combination cutting and marking die having the marking die portions resiliently attached to the cutting die portions with a unique torsion spring arrangement.

United States Patent Panter et al.

[ 1 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] TORSION ACTION CUTTING AND MARKING DIE [72] Inventors: Peter D. Panter; Claude P-E. Denis, both of Grand Rapids; Gerhard P. Kaempler, Wyoming, all of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Wolverine World Wide, Inc.,

Rockford, Mich.

[22] Filed: June 4, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 43,506

[52] US. Cl. ..l2/52.5, 69/2, 83/652 [51] Int. Cl. ..A43d 7/12 [58] Field of Search ..101/30; 69/2; 83/656, 697,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,619,897 12/1952 St. Lawrence ..101/30 1,030,781 6/1912 Hollander ..69/2 X 955,277 4/1910 MacFarland et al. .101/30 UX 771,669 10/1904 Schncegass 101/30 UX 1,738,599 12/1929 Mertinz ..83/656 2,088,975 8/1937 Randolph 101/30 3,217,579 11/1965 Rubico et al. ..83/652 Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Clifford D. Crowder AttorneyPrice, Heneveld, l-Iuizenga & Cooper 57] ABSTRACT A combination cutting and marking die having the marking die portions resiliently attached to the cutting die portions with a unique torsion spring arrangement.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures TORSION ACTION CUTTING AND MARKING DIE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to combination cutting and marking die units, and more particularly to such having spring means interconnecting the cutting and marking portions.

Combination cutting and marking die units, as for leather forming operations, having the marking portions attached to the cutting portions by spring means, have been suggested heretofore. The suggested units have generally been rather complex, being made up of a multiple of interfitting components.

In use of such dies, the marks formed serve as guides for subsequent operations to be performed in fabrication of an article, e.g. a shoe, from the material, usually leather or the like. Unfortunately, known units too often do not make a mark which remains clear and distinct until the shoe is finished. This is particularly a problem with leather having a suede finish, on which it is exceptionally difficult to create clearly marked lines, and to make them last. There is a definite limit to the depth to which the marker may be impressed into the leather in efforts to provide adequate marking, if permanent damage is to be avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a cutting and marking die unit that is exceptionally efiective in marking leather or the like, even leather with a suede finish. With a unique suspension of the marking portions of the die from the cutting element, a unique double action movement of the marker is obtained which has been found particularly effective.

The novel die employs a series of elongated torsion springs, each extending between the marker and the cutter. The springs are mounted in like arrangement which, when on a toe and vamp marking and cutting die, extend around an arc, creating a cooperative limited rotational or twisting action of the marker when it moves resiliently relative to the cutter, during use.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon studying the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of the novel die unit shown as a toe marking and vamp cutting unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on plane II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the unit in FIG. 1, taken on plane III-III', and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a leather blank cut and marked with the novel die unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now specifically to the drawings, the combination cutting and marking die unit or assembly includes a peripheral cutting element 12 and inner marking portions 14, the latter being connected to and suspended from the former by a unique arrangement of helical coil torsion spring elements 16. The purpose of unit 10 is to form blanks B (FIG. 4) of leather or the like having a peripheral cut edge E and impressed marks M. Edge E defines the blank, with marks M being used as guidance for subsequent operations when the leather material is used for fabricating a shoe.

Since this invention was devised with respect to the manufacturer of shoes, and has been found particularly useful in treating leather materials having a suede finish, it will be described largely with respect thereto. However, it is conceivable that, within the broader aspects of the invention, the die may be employed on other materials, e.g. leather substitutes of imitation leather, or articles. Further, the concept has been found particularly useful as a toe marking and vamp cutting die which has a generally arcuate configuration over a substantial share of its peripheral extent. This maximizes the special twist type shifting function of marking portions 14, particularly the generally arcuate toe marking portion 14' thereof, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. Here again however, it is conceivable that the concept could be usefully employed with other specific die configurations to suit other portions of the shoe or other articles being fabricated.

Cutting die 12 forms a closed configurated loop defining the peripheral extent of the vamp, with the rear part (in the lower portion of FIG. 1 as illustrated) including a tongue defining extension 12 straddled by recessed portion 12". Cutting die 12 has a sharp cutting edge 12a at least on its lower surface, and may, if desired, be a double acting element so that one edge can be used for cutting the right foot version, and the opposite edge (by inverting the unit) for the left foot version. The apex of this lower cutting edge 12a lies in a plane so that, when the leather material is placed upon a solid flat support (not shown) the knife will have a uniform cutting action over its extent.

Positioned within the space defined by peripheral cutting die 12 are the marking die portions 14 composed of toe marker 14 and supplemental markers 14" at the rear of the die. Toe marker 14 is suspended from and attached to cutting die 12 with the series of special springs 16 noted previously. A cross tie rod 18, having its opposite ends attached to the lateral inner faces of die 12 by welding, and welded to cutter recessed zones 12" intermediate its ends is preferably employed for stabilizing the marking portions if desired. If used, bar 18 extends through openings in the rear end portions of toe marker 14, and the forward portions of markers 14". Likewise, the forward ends of markers 14" and the rear ends of marker 14 have cut-outs to overlap in criss-cross fashion, but this forms no part of the invention and may be changed as desired.

Each of the helical coil portion spring elements 16 comprises a central coil formed of a plurality of circular turns lying generally in a vertical plane which is transverse to the horizontal plane of the lower cutting edge, preferably substantially perpendicular thereto. The axis of coil 16 is substantially parallel to the plane of the lower cutting edge. Each spring element includes a pair of ends 16a and 16b extending away from opposite ends of the helical coil 16' in opposite directions. These ends are secured respectively to the cutting die 12 and marking die portion 14 (FIG. 2) preferably perpendicular to the inner face of the die and marker. This securement is preferably by extending the ends through openings in the die elements and attaching as by silver soldering, peening, adhering with a suitable resin, or the like. The plurality of springs 16 are arranged around the loop of the toe portion of the die in like position relative to the ends 160 and 16b projecting from the ends of the coil. That is, the springs are so arranged that the ends 16a mounted to cutting die 12 are all located alike relative to their coil, around the loop. Likewise ends 16b being arranged alike. This like arrangement around the loop is clearly illustrated in FIG. 1. This arrangement effects a special twisting or rotational shifting function of the marking die as it moves relative to the cutter, as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

In addition, two of the same type of coil springs 16 are preferably used to attach marking die portions 14 to stabilizing bar 18, one spring on each side, as shown in FIG. 1.

Marking die portions 14 have a lower blunted marking edge 14a, and, if a double unit, also on the upper portion thereof as illustrated in FIG. 2. This marking edge is in a plane recessed from and substantially parallel to the plane of cutting edge 12a. The extent of the recess is less than the thickness of the material or stock e.g. leather to be operated upon such that, when cutting edge 12a has partially penetrated the material, the marking edge 14a comes into engagement therewith. Further movement of the cutting edge into the material causes the marking edge to first be impressed into the material to indent it. Still further movement of the cutting edge through the material creates a biasing stress on the dull marking edge, because of its tendency to bottom out and not move further with further movement of the cutting edge clear through the material. Therefore, at this point there is a relative vertical movement between the marking edge and the cutting edge. With particular arrangement of the springs 16 as shown, it has been found that. this relative vertical movement causes a small controlled rotational or twisting movement of marker 14. This shifting movement of the marking edge in its own plane causes marker 14' to skid slightly on the leather surface, effectuating a clearer more lasting mark, particularly on a suede finish. If, on the other hand, the springs on one side of the toe are positioned in a mirror image to those on the other side of the toe, this shifting effect is canceled out.

The novel device has been found very useful in cutting and marking materials, particularly leather, even suede finish leather, for the fabrication of articles such as shoes. It is entirely possible that those in the art, once they have studied this disclosure, may readily perceive minor variations which could be made in the structure without departing from the novel concept, and other advantages not specifically denoted. It is intended that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims rather than to the specific illustrative embodiment set forth herein.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privelege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A combination cutting and marking die comprising: a cutting die portion and a marking die portion; and a plurality of helical torsion spring elements suspending said marking die portion on said cutting die portion, each spring element having one end attached to said cutting die ortion and the second end attached to said marking ie portion, said cutting die portion having a sharp cutting edge lying generally in a plane, and said springs each having a helical coil around an axis, said axis of each said coil lying generally parallel to said plane.

2. The die in claim 1 wherein said springs each have a helical coil formed of individual loops, said loops lying generally in a vertical plane transversely relative to said first mentioned plane.

3. The die in claim 2 wherein said spring element coils have said spring element ends .extending from opposite ends thereof, and said spring element coils and ends are arranged in like orientation relative to each other with respect to said cutting die portion and marking die portion, at spaced intervals along said cutting die portion.

4. A combination cutting and marking die comprising: a cutting die formed in a generally closed loop configuration, and having a sharp lower cutting edge lying generally in a plane; a marking die within said cutting die, and having a marking edge recessed upwardly from said plane; a plurality of spaced helical coil torsion springs resiliently suspending said marking die from said cutting die, each having two extended ends, one attached to said marking die and the other attached to said cutting die, said coil springs being arranged around a substantial portion of said loop, each coil having turns lying generally transversely relative to said plane, and successive ones of said springs around said loop being arranged with their ends in like fashion relative to the coil of the respective springs with respect to said cutting die loop and said marking die to cause said marking die edge to shift slightly laterally in its plane relative to said cutting die when shifted resiliently away from said plane. 

1. A combination cutting and marking die comprising: a cutting die portion and a marking die portion; and a plurality of helical torsion spring elements suspending said marking die portion on said cutting die portion, each spring element having one end attached to said cutting die portion and the second end attached to said marking die portion, said cutting die portion having a sharp cutting edge lying generally in a plane, and said springs each having a helical coil around an axis, said axis of each said coil lying generally parallel to said plane.
 2. The die in claim 1 wherein said springs each have a helical coil formed of individual loops, said loops lying generally in a vertical plane transversely relative to said first mentioned plane.
 3. The die in claim 2 wherein said spring element coils have said spring element ends extending from opposite ends thereof, and said spring element coils and ends are arranged in like orientation relative to each other with respect to said cutting die portion and marking die portion, at spaced intervals along said cutting die portion.
 4. A combination cutting and marking die comprising: a cutting die formed in a generally closed loop configuration, and having a sharp lower cutting edge lying generally in a plane; a marking die within said cutting die, and having a marking edge recessed upwardly from said plane; a pLurality of spaced helical coil torsion springs resiliently suspending said marking die from said cutting die, each having two extended ends, one attached to said marking die and the other attached to said cutting die, said coil springs being arranged around a substantial portion of said loop, each coil having turns lying generally transversely relative to said plane, and successive ones of said springs around said loop being arranged with their ends in like fashion relative to the coil of the respective springs with respect to said cutting die loop and said marking die to cause said marking die edge to shift slightly laterally in its plane relative to said cutting die when shifted resiliently away from said plane. 